Jewel Klok

1933 - 2020

Jewel Esther Klok, beloved wife of the late John Klok, left peacefully to be with her Lord and Saviour on Thursday, April 9, 2020 at the age of 86 years.

As a result of the restrictions regarding COVID-19, and the government’s recommendations, a private gathering for family was held at Southland Funeral Chapel on Thursday, April 16, 2020. A private burial service followed at the Taber Memorial Garden.

Jewel is survived by her children Rod (Lisa), Ivan (Janelle), Wayne (Sylvia), Dennis (Noreen), Wendy (Ken) and of course, Sandra! Her grandchildren Janine (Marty), Andrea (Jarred), Connor, Kassidy and Kaitlyn, Cindy, Colin, Anders, Erik, Justine (Riley), Christine (Tylan), Jordyn, Jenna, Aaron, Connor, Alyssa (Dan), Cara and her great grandchildren Noah, Kabrina, Skylar, Taiya, Cole, Kash, Jack, Lucas and Jack.

She was predeceased by her husband John, son Terrance, parents Menzo and Cynthia, brother Robert and sister Evelyn.

Jewel was born May 25, 1933 in Atwood, Michigan. She was the third of nine children. Atwood was where she spent the first ten years of her life. The Depression meant things were hard, but being so young it wasn’t noticed. Milking their three cows, Blackie, Brownie and Buttercup with her father, the pastor of the local Christian Reformed Church, was as normal and even exciting to her as anything. Her parents positive attitude made it seem like life was great, even with so many difficulties around them. In 1943 they moved to Volga, South Dakota and then seven years later, another move to Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. She followed her parents as they both worked at growing the church. She spent countless days traveling by car with her dad from Winnipeg, Manitoba to Regina, Saskatoon and many smaller communities between as he worked in the Christian Reformed Church ministry.

Finally, in 1955, they moved to Taber. Jewel eventually met John Klok one day while she was out picking beans at the Klok family farm. They married April 16, 1957. The early years together were tough. John worked long hours in construction and Jewel became custodian of the church, scrubbing the oiled floors and pews, week after week.

Jewel loved music. She learned to play piano when she was young. She had the pleasure of playing for her church congregation and at weddings and funerals for over fifty years, as well as playing for the residents of Clearview Lodge and Linden View. Jewel worked hard and rarely had a slow day. How could you really, when you have seven children? But still, she found time to enjoy her gardening, lawn mowing and of course speed walking for miles with her friends. Few kept up! She could also slow down enough to enjoy her Monday morning get togethers with her friends for games.

Jewel’s faith and relationship with God were immensely important to her and she kept herself busy as well with Christian Women’s Ministry and other ministries at her church.

The family wants to send a huge thank you to all the staff at both the Clearview Lodge and Linden View for all they did for mom over the last few years of her life.